THE first matches for the Open category in the Bounty Farm Ltd Handicap Squash Tournament were played Wednesday night alongside the second round of the Category A games.

Ashley Khalil (-6) put returning Lydia Fraser (10) through her paces with powerhouse shots and strategic placement. Fraser fought hard, but could muster only 1 point per game, finishing up 15-11, 15-11.

Dane Pereira (10) followed a shaky start against Adam Alves (5), with a spirited bid in the second game. Alves proved too much and claimed a close second game 15-14, giving him the match 15-7, 15-14.

In Category A, excitement brewed as Gianni Carpenter (-6) faced Demetrius DeAbreu (-4) in an anticipated close battle. Left-handed Carpenter came out strong with some hard drives and good length cross courts to dominate a 15-10 win. DeAbreu answered with his signature drop shots in the second game and wrong-footed Carpenter to a 15-4 defeat.
Both boys came out determined on the final game, with DeAbreu pulling ahead after long, varied shot rallies. Carpenter seemed to find something extra, to come back from a 13-3 score to win four straight, but DeAbreu took the next two for a 15-7 triumph. Final scores 10-15, 15-4, 15-7.

Another great match for the evening was Zachary Persaud (7) against Mohryan Baksh (-3). Despite Baksh’s much-improved court movement and shot selection, the handicap proved too much against fighter Persaud and the three-game match ended in a victory for Persaud, 15-10, 11-15, 15-12.

Kirsten Gomes and Abosaide continued their winning streak, along with Nicholas Verwey and Lucas Jonas.

Play continued yesterday at 18:00hrs with the higher seeded players in the Open Category.
Scores for the evening:

Open Category
Ian Mekdeci (5) beat Medhi Ramdhani (8) 15-7, 15-7
Damien Da Silva (-6) defeated Tian Edwards (13) 15-13, 15-13
Adam Alves (5) beat Dane Pereira (10) 15-7, 15-14
Jonathan Antczak (6) thrashed Reagan Rodrigues (10) 15-5. 15-6
Ashley Khalil (-6) whipped Lydia Fraser (10) 15-11, 15-11
Category A
Lucas Jonas (-3) edged Matthew Daby (14) 15-14, 15-14.
Michael Alphonso (-10) overcame Lucas Persaud (11) 15-11, 15-12.
Zachary Persaud (7) prevailed over Mohryan Baksh ((-3) 15-10, 11-15, 15-12.
Kirsten Gomes (-4) beat Beau Fernandes (11) 15-12, 15-11.
Lucas Jonas (-3) bettered Joshua Verwey (11) 15-13. 15-14.
Lajuan Munroe (10) beat Dhiren Persaud (11) 15-7, 15-11.
Abosaide Cadogan (-4) beat Ethan Jonas (-4) 15-12, 15-10.
Demetrius DeAbreu (-4) got the better of Gianni Carpenter (-6) 10-15, 15-4, 15-7
Nicholas Verwey (-8) edged Brenno DaSilva (13) 15-14, 15-14.